COMMISSION OF INQUIRY INTO BUSH WAR CRIMES AND CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY TO RELEASE PRELIMINARY FINDINGS
WHERE: National Press Club, Washington, DC
WHEN: Feb. 2, 12 Noon
INFORMATION:
www.bushcommission.orgCONTACT: 212-941-8086EMAIL:
commission@nion.usThe International Commission of Inquiry on Crimes Against Humanity Committed bythe Bush Administration met in New York City the weekend of January 20th throughthe 22nd to work towards fulfilling its mandate: "When the possibility offar-reaching war crimes and crimes against humanity exists, people of consciencehave a solemn responsibility to inquire into the nature and scope of these acts,and to determine if they do in fact rise to the level of war crimes and crimesagainst humanity."A prestigious panel of jurists heard testimony documenting criminal acts andpolicies allegedly perpetrated by President Bush and his administration fromprominent experts, former US and UK officials, and eye-itnesses, in the areas ofwar, torture, global environment and health, and Katrina. Hundreds of peopleattended and the session was covered by CNN, Newsday, all-news channel New York1, Pacifica radio, and other media. (See links at end of this e-mail.)Musician, actor and human rights activist Harry Belafonte opened the session:"It is important when all the instruments of government collapse, we go in thefinal hour, to the most important line of battle: the people themselves." (Fullaudio and video of all speeches will be posted at www.bushcommission.org)Attorney Michael Ratner, President of the Center for Constitutional Rights,stated: "We are putting the Bush administration on trial. We investigate inorder to expose. We document in order to indict. We arouse consciousness inorder to create mass resistance."* Scott Ritter, former UN weapons inspector, testified: "What passes forintelligence is nothing more than politically motivated propaganda...There wasno intelligence failure because the policy wasn't disarmament; it was regimechange."* Craig Murray, ex-UK Ambassador to Uzbekistan: "There was no form of torture soextreme that the CIA would refuse the results of that torture....You can'tbuild security on evil. I don't believe torture works, but even it if did work,I'd rather die than have anyone tortured to save my life."* Brig. Gen. Janis Karpinski (Ret.): "When [General Geoffrey] Miller arrived atAbu Ghraib, he said, 'It's my opinion that you're treating the prisoners toowell....You have to treat the prisoners like dogs... Rumsfeld...authorized sleepdeprivation, stress positions, meal disruptions, serving meals late, not servinga meal, leaving the lights on, playing loud music, issuing criticism of theirreligions."* Dr. Alan Berkman, Prof. of Public Health, Columbia University: "[Bush's]ideologically driven prevention agenda has in fact accounted for millions ofdeaths in the five years since he took power."* Daphne Wysham, of the Institute for Policy Studies: "The Bush White House isdeliberately targeting information policy-makers have on climate change in aneffort to protect some of the most powerful industries on the planet, namely theoil, gas, and coal industries."* Hurricane Katrina Victim Larry McBride testified that he and other prisonersin a New Orleans jail were left to die during Hurricane Katrina, and were thenbeaten and denied food and water by the National Guard when they fled to higherground.The panel of jurists is currently deliberating and receiving further evidence. Preliminary findings will be made public at a news conference scheduled forFebruary 2nd at the National Press Club in Washington, DC. at noon. TheCommission will later issue detailed findings, accompanied by fulldocumentation. Video and audio transcripts will be posted as available. As the Commission has brought these proceedings to conclusion, the aggregateimpact of the scope and severity of these crimes has shocked even the organizersand experts. People in different fields have shared their information and werestunned. This Commission's work is breaking new ground and will impact the wholepolitical terrain.YOUR PARTICIPATION AND SUPPORT ARE NEEDED! Your participation is essential to fulfilling the Commission's mission by makingits work and findings known to millions. As Michael Ratner said, this is apivotal moment. It's no time to sit on the side lines. It is up to all of us totake the evidence of the Commission out into society, to fuel and reframe thedebate from one about 'dishonesty," "misconduct," and "law-break" to arecognition of unconscionable crimes against humanity. In doing so, thisCommission becomes an instrumentality of all of humanity. We have a rare opportunity to help make this happen. Funds are needed to flyjurists and witnesses from Europe and the U.S. to Washington, DC for our Feb. 2press conference. We urge you to give all you can, and then give more. History,and global humanity, demand nothing less. Checks should be made out to "Not InOur Name" and mailed to Not In Out Name, 305 West Broadway, #199, New York, NY10013. Contributions can be made on line at www.nion.us/NSOC/sign.htm. Visit the Commission web site at www.bushcommission.org. Volunteers needed inthe New York area! Contact the office at
commission@nion.us. or call 212-941-8086.